The Forsytes

We'll have to disagree then. The thing about Soames, the very point Galsworthy was trying to make, is that Soames is utterly incapable of passion. Of strong emotion. Galsworthy implies that his sex drive is sublimated and replaced simply by pride in ownership. Soames has had a few, apparently very few sexual encounters, furtive and merely to satisfy appetite. The point of his being is to conceal himself and his feelings in case someone catches him unawares and takes advantage of him. He has bought the most valuable object of his collection, Irene. He is actually at a deep level frightened of her, perhaps of her perfection. A piece of Meissen without a single flaw. He rapes her simply because she has taken from him something priceless...her perfection...and now has lost her merchantable value - he sees everything not in emotional terms but in cost and value. The anger is at losing something to a thief. And that thief is Irene herself, not Bosinney. She has chosen to give away his property, which is her bodily perfection. Twitching rage and frustration is just not part of Soames' nature.

🫣🤪😂

Aveline

Damian Lewis was excellent as Soames. The pent up rage and frustration exposed in every twitch was palpable. I can only assume you haven't watched the version with him in it. Gina McKee was just drippy.

Agree, Gina McKee was as wooden as a wardrobe.

Soames would never have been captivated by her, she looked a right misery.

I thought it was a prequel

This is the third televised version.

Damian Lewis was excellent as Soames. The pent up rage and frustration exposed in every twitch was palpable. I can only assume you haven't watched the version with him in it. Gina McKee was just drippy.

Oh dear me no. Damien Lewis is Just Wrong as Soames, as is Gina McKee as Irene. Completely at odds with Galsworthy's originals. Soames was perfectly portrayed by Eric Porter, with his hidden corners and deep dishonesty. He has no poetry in his soul. It's not just one of those ironies that he's an art collector. Thing is, Irene was NOT cold...we first meet her, with her exquisite colouring, dark eyes, rich and soft and sensual, like velvet, and hair the colour of feuilles mortes - as if the concentrated light and life of the sun, ironically at the end of summer, is distilled in a single unique woman. She is portrayed as a pagan goddess, an Astarte, a goddess who is passion personified; it's just that the Forsytes are too materialistic, too mundane, too ordinary, to perceive her perfection. It takes an artist like Bosinney to see it and to worship it...it's a love that could never survive the everyday...it would burn out those who attempted to touch the sun, like Icarus. Gina McKee was just wrong on all levels, much as I admire her work.

I have only listen to a radio 4 production, must be about 10 years ago, not seen either TV versions. I was thinking of giving it a go, I gathered it is a prequel. Channel 5 adds can be a bit much, but I have found if you watch on catch up some times the ad breaks are much shorter. They had a series called The Hardacres which was a costume drama, a bit rags to riches and but a cosy watch.

The 1960s version had 17 episodes! How can this version match up with only six?

Hi, other Grans: I & my parents back then were completely hooked on the 1967 version & all else 'came to a stop' then. I thought the characters were 'true to the book' but if only these could be adjusted into added colour, that would be great.
I did watch the next version - not quite the same! I am 'giving it a go' with this latest version although seems the story has been altered, in particular that Irene (pretty but not 'beautiful' as in the original ) was a ballet dancer in this latter version.

I think if you haven’t watched the original or the Damian Lewis version ( the best) ❤️ this offering wouldn’t endear you to the wonderful story 🙁

Chardy

I'm half an hour into Ep 1. The younger men seem quite 21st century

I'm reminded of The Gilded Age with Christine Baranski (she is wonderful) and Cynthia Nixon. I watched maybe 1 season, and couldn't be fussed to watch season 2. Very glossy.

So is this geared to the US market?

That's interesting bcause I found it much glossier and stylised than the Gilded Age. But I really enjoy The Gilded Age, the latest series was brilliant and it very much reflects the battles between old and new money in the US at the time.

My memory of the original Forsyte Sage is sketchy but I can remember sitting and watching with my Mum.

Will continue watching this current prequel and see where it goes.

It’s a prequal , not a remake of the original!
I didn’t watch it as it could never replace ‘60s b/w series.
The critic in my paper was pretty damning of the story saying it was very silly, full of too many 21st century things or unnecessary bits like shirtless men, for no particular reason, but said it was entertaining.

I'm half an hour into Ep 1. The younger men seem quite 21st century

I'm reminded of The Gilded Age with Christine Baranski (she is wonderful) and Cynthia Nixon. I watched maybe 1 season, and couldn't be fussed to watch season 2. Very glossy.

So is this geared to the US market?

Susan Hampshire has a very small part in this new series. She was on TV yesterday. My goodness she looks good for 88.

Chardy

I loved the 1960s version of course, so I read the books. But I really liked the Damian Lewis, Gina McKee, Rupert Graves 2003 version too. And I read the books again.
I'm hopeful

I liked the updated version too, Damien Lewis was superb as Soames, no Gina McKee is not as beautiful as Nyree Dawn Porter but she portrayed her coldness well, which was of course a protection against the agreement with Soames which he betrayed. I will give the new series a try, hopefully it is based on the later books in the series.

I’ll give it a go as love a period piece, even if sugar coated.
I’ve just finished an old series “A Horseman Riding By” I found on YouTube and although a period piece, was more realistic.
At least it’s not another blinking Austen revival🙄

Catterygirl

Never watched it. Willing to give the new one a try.

Same here.

In that case you might enjoy it GrannyGravy, because it bears no resemblance to either . I agree LadyGaGa, the books are wonderful, and the original series followed them closely.

I was too young to watch the original, haven’t read the books.

I thought the first episode was setting the scene and introducing the characters. I hope I will enjoy it 🤞

I loved Nyree Dawn Porter and Eric Porter in the original .
I fell fast asleep before it started !

I watched half then went to bed, but will watch the rest.

Yes, lots of ad breaks.

To me, it felt a lot like ‘Belgravia’, more than ‘Downton’.

I must look up the characters as I couldn’t remember them all.

Someone said Fleur isn’t in, too early for her to appear yet, as Soames has only just met Irene.

The John Galsworthy novels are one of my absolutely favourites. I shed a tear when I finished them. The 1967 version was good, but Damien Lewis is Soames in my mind and no one else would cut the mustard. (To my husband DL is Homeland, and to my son Band of Brothers - he’s an amazing actor!) I agree that Gina McKee just wasn’t up to Irene - she came across as miserable and boring.
I will give the new series a go though.

Catgrann

1036? I'd say she had a good innings

Yes, not bad!

Oreo

Chardy

I loved the 1960s version of course, so I read the books. But I really liked the Damian Lewis, Gina McKee, Rupert Graves 2003 version too. And I read the books again.
I'm hopeful

I always like Damien Lewis he seems to effortlessly act anyone else off the screen.
Gina McKee acted well in it but IMO is not beautiful and certainly wouldn’t have mesmerised a man.Pale as a ghost and as melancholy as well.

I recently watched it and loved it. What brilliant acting by Damien Lewis. Will record this new one.